Each Friday the Charlotte women's basketball team will be featured in a
notebook detailing news and notes surrounding the program leading into the
2012-13 season. Each notebook will feature a series of highlights, a short
Q&A with a member of the coaching staff and videos with the 49ers players.

In-depth information on the program can also be found on the Charlotte women's
basketball program's official twitter feed @CharlotteWBB. Be sure to watch this
week's videos with Tori Carter (here), Ny Hammonds (here) and Olivia Rankin
(here).

NotesStart of practice
Charlotte women's basketball officially opened its preseason practice Monday
afternoon in pursuit of its 11th-straight postseason appearance.
Head coach Cara Consuegra, in her second season at the helm, welcomed back nine
letterwinners and all five starters to the fold.

New website launchThe Charlotte women's basketball program has officially launched its own
website CharlotteWBB.com. It was a lot of hard work for the staff, especially
assistant coach Karen Lange, to put it together, but it will be your
destination for exclusive videos and content surrounding the program.
Charlotte49ers.com will remain the official site of the program with news,
notes, stats and photos throughout the season; however, CharlotteWBB.com will
serve as a complimentary avenue.

Making an impactMembers of the Charlotte 49ers women's basketball team and coaching staff
will be participating in the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure Saturday morning
in downtown Charlotte. It marks the fifth-straight year in which the program
has participated in the 5k race that begins at 7:50 a.m. The team typically
walks with MaryAnn O'Conner, a breast cancer survivor and local Honda dealer.

New voice of the program
The dawn of a new season also brings the addition of a new radio play-by-play
voice for the upcoming campaign. Josh Feldman has agreed to call all the 49ers
action this year. He currently works as the director of media relations/sales
with the Kannapolis Intimidators, a minor league baseball team in Kannapolis,
N.C. In addition, he handles the radio for the Intimidators broadcasts. Welcome
to Niner Nation, Josh!

TV show taping
The annual season preview TV show will be taped Friday afternoon. Head coach
Cara Consuegra will be joined by seniors Jai Forney and Jennifer Hailey on the
set, as assistant athletic media relations director Ryan Rose will serve as the
host. The show will be seen on channel 22, but also in shorter segments for the
November edition of "Inside UNC Charlotte" which airs on WTVI and also channel
22.

Q&A with Assistant Coach Karen
Lange1. Now that you have been here
for a year, how would you access this program and the direction in which it is
headed?I would definitely say we're headed in a positive direction. We have had a
year to get the players familiar with our coaching expectations and style,
which I don't think is very much different from what they were used to before.
It's just new characteristics and personalities of each of us. I think we've
had a chance to form better relationships with our players over the last year.
All that is important for the culture we are trying to create. We're pleased
with where we're headed but know there is still a lot of work to do.

2. What were some of the highlights from
last season you remember?Our performances at home were really consistent, especially our game
against Richmond at the end of the year was a highlight because I felt we
performed really well against a really good team. And we had that leading into
our postseason run, making the WNIT yet again. That in itself is a highlight
because it continues our postseason appearances consecutively in this program.
Also, I think just the growth of our players. They continued to grow as we went
through the year, with a couple earning all-conference selections. That's a
credit to them and always good for our program.

3. In order to be successful, what three
things must this year's team accomplish?We've talked a lot about the three things we need to have an identity for
Charlotte basketball this season - being very good in transition, lead the
conference in rebounding and tougher defensively. Those are three areas we feel
like we are very capable of accomplishing. We have the talent and skill, just
have to have the effort consistently. I think if we're good in those three
areas, we can be a pretty successful team.

4. What is your favorite part of
coaching?Definitely, without question, the relationships with the players and just
having an impact on them. I enjoy being someone that teaches them about
basketball but also someone that helps them in their everyday life with what
they go through as a college student and person.

5. When you aren't coaching, what do you
enjoy spending your time doing?First and foremost, spending time with my children and playing with them.
As much time as I put in here with our players and our family here, I want to
do that same thing for my children.
I also enjoy playing golf in addition to reading and exercising. Those things
are pretty much what I would choose to do if I had a perfect day - play with my
children, play a round of golf, go for a long run and just enjoy my free time.

Charlotte women's basketball will open the 2012-13 campaign with an exhibition
against Johnson C. Smith November 3 at 7 p.m. in Halton Arena. A week later,
November 10, the 49ers begin the regular season with a 6 p.m. tip against North
Carolina Central.

Season tickets are on-sale now starting at $30 and
are available by calling 704-687-4949 or visiting the "Tickets" menu
option at Charlotte49ers.com.

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